This summer the heat can bring fun activities such as swimming and water parks with our children. Be careful to avoid dehydration and heat exhaustion by following a few simple tips. Keep summer fun with these all natural ways to cool down.

Light clothing is a must. Of course avoid heavy fabrics, stick to breathable light organic cotton fabrics. Be sure your attire is light in color as well. Black and darker colors absorb the heat. Stick to wearing colors such as white and light yellow to feel cooler throughout the day.

Put those BPA-free reusable water bottles of water into the freezer. As you or your family heads out the door, give them one of those frozen bottles and as it thaws throughout the day you will all be able to enjoy cold water. A bottle of water straight from the refrigerator to the park will be warm within a few minutes due to that strong summer sun. Be sure to have these handy especially when headed to the beach or for some other form of outdoor activity.

Exercise in the early mornings or late evening when the temperature drops a little. For some states, such as Florida, it seems that the heat never abates no matter how early one rises to get in a run. In that situation, research a local gym in your area and switch your workouts, temporarily, to indoors where the air conditioning can help to keep you cool enough to avoid heat exhaustion.

Try to cut back on using your air conditioning as much as possible, but of course be safe. If you live in a climate where nights and mornings are cooler, open those windows and let nature cool your abode down so that you can decrease air conditioning usage. Again, please be safe and use air conditioning as needed especially with children and the elders who are more easily susceptible to heat exhaustion.

One last tip is to eat more frequent smaller and cooler meals throughout the day to keep your electrolytes balanced. Eat a healthy breakfast of yogurt, fruit and granola, followed by a mid-morning snack of a bowl of your favorite fruit and you will already notice a difference in your body's ability to manage heat and your energy level by lunch time. Continue eating healthy and cool throughout the day to reap the rewards of balanced nutrition. There is nothing better than homemade fresh fruit popsicles to keep you cool and healthy.

Enjoy your summer with your usual movement and activities possibly altered to different times of the day, to indoors, and with cold water handy. Sit still when you need to and just breathe in the easy summer vibe. And, savor the delicious summer fruits that come along only once a year. Simple steps for a naturally cool summer!